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-r1. Phas ot Fe ee eeel ect of sli pne Educational LOGUCiES VORIMISsiOn Ur wie National Edueation Assuciation and the American Associution of School Admin- istrators, and the Problems and Plans Committee of the American Council on Education: (Joint statement adopted March 13, 1944.) In our judgment it is unwise to commit the nation at this time to a year of universal military service for the following reasons: (1} Present military necessity-—Under the Selec- tive Service Act, the present personnel needs of the Armed Forces are being met so far as the nation’s resources of manpower permit. It therefore follows that the proposed year of compulsory military ser- v o be conceived in terms of a post- war, not av. reni, undertaking. No basic change in the pres- ent Selective Service System is necessary to provide required military personnel, not only for the period of the war, hut also for the period immediately fol- Iuwing the defeat of our enemies. (2) Longtime military necessily—Since the pro- posed year “of compulsory military service is not a question of immediate military necessity, it must be appraised in 10ng ranze ed j if long thd ter ns. la thee t tering, il is clearly impossible at this time ta debate fairly and intelligently the question of whether compulsory military service is a national military necessity. No one can foresee the international stiuation which will exist when Germany and Japan are defeated. Neither the international political nor the international mil- itary situation can be calculated while the war is still in progress. Prophecies on this subject and debate thereon at this time may prove detrimenial 1 national policy and te the unity of the ~ witeu NStions. (3) Policing the peace—When this war is over, _it may be necessary to maintain a large standing army to police the peace, and this may foree us to sdopt compulsory military training. No one is ina “pertion now, however, to forecast fully the inter- national responsibilities that relate to the occupa- tion of foreign teritories. Until the post-war na- - tional situation is clarified, it seems to us extremely “unwise and even dangerous to commit the nation to such a revolutionary change in fundamental national _ policy as would the establishment of compulsory tilitary service. id} The American military tradition — Our American democratic tradition is strongly set against s large standing army. We, along with the great body of Americans, will support 4 year of com- rr TWP we ce cD ee eee ee ate od ashes, the salety of the nation requires We ate unre- servedly for adequate preparedness, but we see great dangers in any unnecessary break with our tested dentocratic tradition respecting compulsory military service in times of peace. (5) The opinion of the young men now fighing the war—The year of proposed military service, if ‘adopted will directly affect the children of men who are now fighting in the armed forecs. These men should have a voice in detcrmining the desirability and soundness of compulsory military service. Their opinions cannot, however, be determined until the war is over. This constitutes another strong reason for delaying decision until] peace has come. (6) The nature of the peace—The American peo- ple are fighting this war with the high hope that it will eventuate in oan enduring peace, Wa all look ae al Witkin mw oak GOR for measures of international cooperation which will reduce the necessity for pusi-war large scale military establishments. If, against the backsround of these great expectations, a year of compulsory military training is urged, many Americans will interpret such action as a signal for the return of the cynicism of the 1920’s or an admission that we shall all con- linue to live in an armed camp and that the hopes of a more peaceful world are not to be realized. National Congress cf Parents and Teachers: We oppose: (1) Any bill providing for the draft- ing of 17-year old boys for military service until more effective use is made of man and woman power. (2) HR 1806, HR 3947, or any like measure com- mitting the nation at this time to a program of post- war military training. (May 25, 1944) The United States Student Assembly: We oppose universal military conscription in peacelime. (June 7, 1944) The Preshyterian General Assembly: We would record our conviction that no decision should be made during the war which commits this nation to a post-war policy of peacetime military conscription, (May 30, 1-44) ‘The United Council of Church Women: Believing peacetime conscription to be oppased to principles both of the’democeatic way of Hfe and the Christian belief in the worth and dignity of the individual, and believing that all young people should have an adequate opportunity to complete their education, we urge that Congress take no action looking toward the peacetime conscription of youth. tVese TA INAAY This Eeaneeal Crp P cesar aan ‘a On seth ru Church: We request Concress to Pestpone athe Noon bt cds lation involving post-war conscri; 8a until fier the war. (May 6, 1944) The Northern Baptist Conventions Whereas, our people are now cnzagsd in a preat war which has aroused their fectinssiind passiens to such an extent as to render sober Sad impscttal thought difficult; and ioe Whereas, it has been proposed tits the nition adopt at this time a very marked depaSure fro: iss long established tradition by approvigg lesis]atien 4 _which would require compulsory peacyime military training; ie) W hereas, the adontion af such 3 py ‘ne al We itd possibly commit our nation to a iwrShtary pliry which would further complicate the dpesceful and cooperative solution of postwar p lan’ % y for pre-ery- ing peace: Therefore he tt Resolved, that we urge that the votghdoratic oot this proposal be pos stponed until alts the er! of hostilities in order that the full implic. ions mov be coally and dispasston: ately cansi le Tay y ra national referendum may he held. iM The Annual Conference of the Ciireh of the Brethren: a The great principles of equal opps he init. Tren dom of thought and expression aii! nepeet fo che views and richts of eee alee ee a ord: ate ing in the spirit of Christ and exon spd in me tory democracy=-are also in peril, Watts dve rejai ein the dezree to which our cevern: vate woHinie = to maintain them, we cannot be blind itt w fact m t they are violated oce asionally ew 4 R govern.cent itself and more frequently by the eit f v. re. gard with serrow and alarm the inc pa ind ai ta anism directed] amainst Jews, Newrs Bl Vox! ans, and American Japanese: and the curs ward permin entrTe yenhu tion and i American life through such pron. saty as the Maj Conscription Bill. (June 11, 1048) @ wa : The Board of Trustees of the National Child Labor Committee: a arizaty ti: ‘fhe National Child Labor Cu: Pel eves that the udoplion of compulso: ¥ weve tre Glos for young mea under the age of 1G woghd atlers ye foundly the lives of our young peop!) Be doslod not be entered into hastily, Tt belived! #that it i. im possible to determine now, while we ave in the: ids afiaene whether onivearaal militares traringd ay bode